UN Says At Least 34 Children Killed In Syria Since Truce

The United Nations says at least 34 children have allegedly been killed in Syria since a fragile cease-fire between President Bashar al-Assad's forces and opposition groups took hold on April 12.

The UN special envoy for children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy said in a statement on May 1 that the killings occurred "despite the deployment of United Nations cease-fire monitors" and urged all sides in the conflict to "refrain from indiscriminate tactics resulting in the killing and wounding of children."

Meanwhile, a Syrian watchdog group meanwhile said on May 1 that opposition fighters have killed at least 12 government troops in heavy fighting in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zor.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported at least 10 people had been killed on May 1 by mortar shells in Syria's northern Idlib province.

Based on reporting by AP and dpa